Green Real Estate Appraiser

3D Print your next holiday cabin

Posted on February 7, 2016 | Leave a comment

pod

Architecture firm SOM have unveiled designs for a 3D printed pod that shares power with a 3D printed vehicle.

It’s designed to be totally self-sustaining and portable so you can live off the grid anywhere.

The firm, also known as Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, have described their work as “the world’s largest 3D-printed structure”, with the pod 11.6 metres long and 3.7 metres high.

The pod can be transported and assembled anywhere.

The pods solar paneled roof allows it to operate on clean energy day and night.

But if sunlight isn’t available, the pod and the vehicle can share energy wirelessly via a closed loop battery system.

SOM worked in conjunction with the US Department of Energy to develop the technology for the vehicle and battery.

10 Common decorating mistakes to avoid

Posted on February 5, 2016 | Leave a comment

Sometimes, getting it right is more about knowing what to avoid, so here’s our top tips on what not to do when redecorating.

1. Bare essentials

Homes that have a spartan look, with bare walls and nothing to look at are not particularly welcoming. Ultra-modern homes can fall into this category. A cool, architectural house is not a home until you add that personal touch.

Don’t over think it, just put up something, preferably large, or introduce some decorative floor rugs. You can always change items at a later date. Which brings us to number two.

2. For art’s sake

Artwork doesn’t need to hang on the wall – it can be propped up on a side table. This interior, designed by Trendzseater, groups interesting black-and-white items with a splash of colour for maximum visual impact.

Prints and paintings hung too high are perhaps the most common decorating mistake. Bring them back down to eye level and lower. Artworks don’t necessarily have to hang on the walls. Consider propping them up on a mantelpiece, extended hearth or a trunk leaning against the wall.

Why California Gasoline is so expensive

Posted on February 4, 2016 | Leave a comment

Although oil markets are bankrupting producers and draining government coffers from Moscow to Riyadh, plummeting costs are filling the pockets of ordinary consumers this year, right?

Um, wrong, at least in California, where state government helps the refining industry keep gasoline prices aloft for months at a time.

On Monday, at $2.55 a gallon, the average cost of gasoline was 11 cents higher than it was a year ago in the Golden State, the federal Energy Information Administration reports.

So why does gas cost so much more in California? I’ve been covering energy markets for 16 years, and this is easily the top question I get from readers. No. 2 is, who’s to blame?

Here’s the short answer to both questions, from industry analyst David Hackett of Stillwater Associates: “Arguably, the government is keeping consumers from buying cheap gas.”

I know what you’re thinking: It’s an election year, and here we have just another business guy blaming government for industry predation of consumers.

disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

3D Print your next holiday cabin

10 Common decorating mistakes to avoid

Why California Gasoline is so expensive

Follow Blog